Raila is at last under our control, MPs claim

By Athman Amran

Five PNU MPs have claimed the party has managed to put Prime Minister Raila Odinga in a political corner from where he cannot escape.

The MPs, however, likened Raila to an elephant that needed a combined effort to bring down.

They claimed the Prime Minister’s reputation, as a politician without blemish was no more, with Kangundo MP Johnstone Muthama pointing out that Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka has been going "around the world to expose the real post-election violence culprit".

Mr Muthama was with David Ngugi (Kinangop), Philip Kaloki (Kibwezi), Kazungu Kambi (Kaloleni) and Cyrus Muriuki (Meru), during a fundraising for St Paul’s Engineer Church in Kinangop on Sunday.

Muthama, who is Government Chief Whip, claimed Raila was now trapped and all they have to do is catch him.

He and Kambi claimed the African Union had no respect for Raila, alleging he was not allowed into the recent AU Summit in Ethiopia, as AU only recognised President Kibaki as Head of State and Government.

Ngugi said the PNU alliance would ensure the presidency does not go to Raila.

"We do not want a leader who lies," Ngugi said, referring to Raila’s claim that Kibaki did not consult him over nominations to four constitutional offices.

Kambi claimed the PM had lost most of his supporters in Rift Valley, adding that with opposition from Eldoret North MP William Ruto, Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, he had no chance in 2012.

Only Nyanza

"Now that 50 per cent of the Rift Valley has gone, who is he (Raila) leading? He has only Nyanza, and the region should not be left behind," Kambi said.

The Kaloleni MP said they had identified Raila as "the common enemy", who he alleged wanted Ruto, Uhuru and Kosgey to be imprisoned at The Hague.

Muriuki claimed the International Criminal Court (ICC) had been politicized, and its mission was to ensure Uhuru and Ruto leave the Kenyan scene so that others can take over power.

The MPs claimed their political alliance was not a Kikuyu, Kalenjin and Kamba outfit but a national outfit.

Raila however over the weekend said his party ODM was still strong despite rebellion from some Rift Valley MP led by Ruto.